Vehicle window assembly with display

ABSTRACT

A vehicular window assembly includes a glass window panel and a display device. The display device includes a display element at the glass window panel and an electrical connector that extends from the display element for electrical connection to a wire harness of a vehicle. The display device is operable to backlight or illuminate at least one icon or alphanumeric character so that the at least one icon or alphanumeric character is viewable at the glass window panel by a person exterior the vehicle. With the window assembly mounted at a vehicle, the display device may be activated to backlight or illuminate the at least one icon or alphanumeric character to indicate at least one vehicle status, and may include indication responsive at least in part to determination that an in-cabin temperature of the vehicle is above a threshold level.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/057,988, filed Aug. 8, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,427,503,which claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser.No. 62/543,554, filed Aug. 10, 2017, which is hereby incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to window assemblies for vehicles and,more particularly to a side or rear fixed window assembly for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide an interior cabin sensor that can determinepresence of an occupant in a vehicle. It is also known to provide atemperature sensor operable to determine an in-cabin temperature of thevehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a vehicle window assembly that comprisesa display device disposed at and behind a glass window panel. Thedisplay device is operable to backlight or illuminate one or morealphanumeric characters and/or icons (such that light emitted by anillumination source of the display device passes through the formedalphanumeric characters and/or icons) such that one or more icons may beviewable by a person exterior the vehicle. The display device isactivated responsive to a triggering event, such as determination thatthe in-cabin temperature exceeds a threshold value (optionally inconjunction with determination that there is an occupant in the vehicleand determination that the vehicle is parked), or such as determinationthat a person is refueling the vehicle (where the display device may beat the window at or above the fuel filler door or port location).

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a window assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a side region of a vehicle with thedisplay device and window assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the display device;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the display device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a window assembly with a display deviceof the present invention, shown with the display device deactivated;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the window assembly of FIG. 5,shown with the display device activated;

FIG. 7 is a side plan view of another window assembly with a displaydevice of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A-D are images of optional icons that can be used to indicatethat the in-cabin temperature of the vehicle is at or above a thresholdtemperature;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of another window assembly with an iconisticdisplay device;

FIGS. 10A-E are images of optional icons that may display information atthe window assembly;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the window assembly of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the window assembly, with noicons being activated for display;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a laminated window assemblyhaving the display device attached at a PVB layer;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of another laminated windowassembly having the display device disposed between two PVB layers;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the display device; and

FIG. 16 is another perspective view of the display device, with no iconsbeing activated for display.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, a window assembly 10 of a vehicle 12 comprises a glass windowpanel 14 with a display device 16 disposed at a perimeter region of theglass panel 14 (FIG. 1). The display device includes an illuminationsource (such as a light emitting diode (LED) or the like) that isoperable to backlight or illuminate an iconistic mask or element or thinfilm transistor (TFT) display or the like, such that the icon that isbacklit is viewable through the window panel by a person exterior thevehicle. The display device is operable to display an alert or iconresponsive to a determination that the in-cabin temperature of thevehicle is at or above a threshold level.

The display device may display or illuminate or backlight an icon (suchas one of the icons of FIGS. 8A-D) that indicates to a person viewingthe window and the display region that the temperature is at or above atemperature threshold. For example, if an in-cabin temperature sensingsystem (or an interior sensor that is part of the display device) sensesor determines an in-cabin temperature of 90 degrees or greater, or 100degrees or greater, the display device is activated to display thealert/icon to alert passersby that the interior vehicle temperature isat an unsafe temperature for its occupants. The display device maydisplay at a constant manner and intensity, or the display device mayincrease intensity or change color of the displayed icon or flash orintermittently display the icon responsive to the temperature increasingabove a second threshold level that is above the first threshold level.

Optionally, the display device may be further operable to display thealert/icon responsive to the elevated temperature and further responsiveto a determination that there is an occupant in the vehicle (such as maybe determined via a cabin monitoring system or the like of the vehicle).Thus, if no one is in the vehicle, the display device will not displaythe alert/icon regardless of the interior temperature. The displaydevice thus only provides the alert when it is important to do so (i.e.,when there is a living being, such as a child or a pet, in the vehicle).

Optionally, the display device may be operable to display the alert/iconresponsive to the elevated temperature and responsive to a determinationthat there is an occupant in the vehicle, and further responsive to adetermination that the vehicle is parked. Thus, if the vehicle is beingdriven, the display device will not display the alert/icon regardless ofthe interior temperature and/or detected occupant.

Optionally, the display device may generate an output to another device,such as to a vehicle audible device, such as the vehicle horn or thelike. Thus, responsive to determination that the vehicle is parked, anoccupant is in the vehicle, and the in-cabin temperature is above athreshold temperature, the system may activate the window display andmay also activate the horn of the vehicle. Clearly, other alerts may beprovided to draw attention to the hot occupied parked vehicle, and suchalerts may include a communication to a remote device, such as thevehicle owner's smart phone or to an emergency contact or to the policeor fire department or the like. The communication may indicate thecondition and situation, and may provide location information so thenotified person can quickly arrive at the vehicle.

The display device may illuminate or backlight or otherwise project anicon such as via illuminating a masking element disposed between theillumination source and the window panel (such as shown in FIGS. 2-4).Optionally, the display device may comprise a reconfigurable displaydevice that may selectively display multiple characters and/or icons toconvey other information to the person viewing the display device fromexterior the vehicle. For example (and with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6),the display device may comprise a reconfigurable display device that isnot readily viewable or discernible when deactivated (FIG. 5) and isviewable when activated (FIG. 6) to selectively display variousalphanumeric characters to convey the desired or selected information.The display device may also (or otherwise) display various vehiclediagnostics or system status indicators, such as engine temperature,tire pressure, oil life, battery life, etc. The display device thus maybe disposed at a window at or near or above the fuel filler area or portor door of the vehicle (see FIG. 2) so that the display may be activatedresponsive to determination that a user is filling the vehicle's fueltank, and so that the person may view the vehicle status informationwhile refueling the vehicle.

Thus, the display device or system of the present invention provides asafety/convenience feature that displays information such as thevehicle's fluid maintenance status, tire pressures, and otherinformation accessible to driver during refueling. The display devicemay comprise an LCD or OLED display mounted at the window and within theperson's sight near the fuel filler door or port. The system may beactivated to display the information responsive to the fuel door beingopened. The display device may be customized to match OEM instrumentpanel graphics and content themes. The display device may beelectrically connected to the vehicle's communication network bus or CANbus to allow for diagnostic, security, and telematics informationdisplay at the discretion of the OEM.

The display device is disposed behind the window panel at an interiorsurface of the window panel. The display device may be adhered to thewindow panel or may be attached or retained thereat via any othersuitable means. For example, the display device may be overmolded by aperimeter window encapsulant or the like, which is overmolded along theperiphery of the window panel. The display device may be electricallyconnected to a wire harness of the vehicle or may electrically connectto one or more electrically conductive traces established at theinterior surface of the vehicle window, such as by utilizing aspects ofthe window assemblies described in U.S. Publication No. US-2017-0246984,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The window assembly comprises a fixed or non-openable window (such as arear side or rear quarter window as shown in the illustratedembodiment). Optionally, the display system of the present invention maybe suitable for use in a movable or openable/closable window assembly,such as a rear liftgate window assembly. Optionally, the display systemof the present invention may be suitable for use in a movable orslidable (such as horizontally slidable or vertically slidable) windowassembly, where the display device may be disposed at an interiorportion of the movable window panel that is encompassed by an interiortrim of the vehicle, or where the display device is thin enough and maybe overcoated or overmolded (such as by a window perimeter encapsulant)so that the display device is not readily noticeable at the interiorsurface of the window panel when the window panel is closed.

The window panel may have the ceramic frit layer (or other suitabledarkening or hiding layer) established via any suitable means, such thatthe window panel has a dark or black or opaque perimeter region. Thedisplay device may be disposed at and behind the opaque layer, and theicons or characters, when back lit or illuminated, may be viewablethrough the opaque layer (such as through icons or charactersestablished through the opaque layer such as via masking or etching orthe like). Optionally, the display screen or element may be disposed ata transparent region of the window panel.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 9-16, a vehicular windowassembly 110 comprises a glass window panel 114 with a display device116 disposed at a perimeter region of the glass panel 114. The displaydevices comprises a plurality of icons (FIGS. 10A-E) to display variousinformation, such as temperature inside the vehicle, engine oiltemperature, vehicle status (such as oil life, wiper fluid low level,tire pressure warning, and/or may include an alphanumeric icon orelement (FIG. 10E) to provide numeric values for one or more of thestatus indicators. The display device includes a plurality ofillumination sources (such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) or the like)that are operable to backlight or illuminate respective icons orportions of an iconistic mask or element or thin film transistor (TFT)display or the like, such that a selected or appropriate icon or iconsthat is backlit is viewable through the window panel by a personexterior the vehicle. The display device may backlight and display analert or icon and may also backlight and display a numeric value for thesystem or accessory or situation that the displayed alert or iconrepresents. For example, responsive to a determination that the in-cabintemperature of the vehicle is at or above a threshold level, the displaydevice may activate the LEDs to illuminate the icon of FIG. 10A, and mayalso activate or illuminate the appropriate portions of the alphanumericelement of FIG. 10E to indicate the current temperature in the vehiclecabin.

The display device 116 includes a flat display film 116 a that may beselectively powered or energized to illuminate the appropriate orselected icons or alphanumeric characters of the display device. Thedisplay device 116 also includes an electrical lead or wire orconductive trace 116 b that extends from the display film 116 a forelectrical connection to a vehicle wire harness when the window assemblyis installed at a vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 13, the window panel 114 comprises a laminated panel,with the display device disposed between adjacent layers or interlayersof polyvinyl butyral (PVB). In the illustrated embodiment, the windowpanel 114 comprises an outer glass panel 114 a (which has anon-light-transmitting layer 115 (such as a ceramic frit layer or thelike) established at a surface thereof), three layers of PVB 114 b, 114c, 114 d, and an inner glass panel 114 e. The display device 116 isdisposed behind the middle PVB layer 114 c and includes an electricallead or wire or conductive trace 116 b that extends between the adjacentPVB layers and extends from the window assembly for electricalconnection to a vehicle wire harness when the window assembly isinstalled at a vehicle. Optionally, the display device may be disposedin front of the middle PVB layer (such as shown in FIG. 14).

Thus, responsive to determination of a person approaching the vehicle(such as via detection of a person approaching or via a signal from apassive entry device of the vehicle or the like), the display device maybe activated to display information to the person approaching thevehicle. The person can then readily see (before entering the vehicle)the status of various vehicle systems or accessories, such as engineoil, wiper fluid, in-cabin temperature, tire pressure and/or the like,and may also be provided with a numeric indication of the value of thatsystem or accessory. The display device is integrated in the windowpanel, such that the window panel (with display device integratedtherein) is installed at the vehicle as a unit, whereby the displaydevice is simply electrically connected to a vehicle wire harness or thelike for power and control (such as by a door control module orelectronic control module or the like of the vehicle at which the windowassembly is installed). When the display device is not activated (seeFIG. 16), the display device is covert and not readily discernible atthe window panel (due to the transparent characteristic of the displayelement and/or the tint or darkening of the window panel (such as due totinting of one or more of the PVB layers).

Therefore, the present invention provides a display device at and behinda side window of a vehicle (and/or optionally at and behind a rearwindow of the vehicle). The display device backlights thecharacters/icons so that a person outside of the vehicle can readily seethe backlit/illuminated characters/icons at the window panel. Thebacklighting or illumination source may be activated responsive toapproach of a person and/or responsive to determination of an in-cabintemperature exceeding a threshold level and/or the like.

Optionally, the window assembly or assemblies of the present inventionmay utilize aspects of the window assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,881,458; 8,402,695; 5,853,895; 5,551,197; 7,073,293; 7,003,916 and/or6,691,464, and/or U.S. Publication Nos. US-2018-0094471;US-2017-0066305; US-2014-0170357; US-2006-0107600; US-2008-0127563;US-2004-0020131 and/or US-2003-0213179, and/or U.S. patent applications,Ser. No. 16/019,637, filed Jun. 27, 2018, and published Jan. 3, 2019 asU.S. Publication No. US-2019-0005755, and/or Ser. No. 15/937,159, filedMar. 27, 2018, and published Oct. 4, 2018 as U.S. Publication No.US-2018-0281697, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

1. A vehicular window assembly, said vehicular window assemblycomprising: a glass window panel, wherein said glass window panelcomprises a laminate panel having an outer glass panel and an innerglass panel; a display device; wherein said display device comprises (i)a display element disposed between said outer glass panel and said innerglass panel and (ii) an electrical connector that extends from saiddisplay element and that extends from said glass window panel forelectrical connection to a wire harness of a vehicle when said vehicularwindow assembly is mounted at the vehicle; wherein said display deviceis operable to backlight or illuminate at least one icon or alphanumericcharacter, and wherein, with said vehicular window assembly mounted atthe vehicle, and when the at least one icon or alphanumeric character isbacklit or illuminated, the at least one icon or alphanumeric characteris viewable at said glass window panel by a person exterior the vehicle;and wherein, with said vehicular window assembly mounted at the vehicle,said display device is activated to backlight or illuminate an icon oralphanumeric character of the at least one icon or alphanumericcharacter responsive at least in part to determination that an in-cabintemperature of the vehicle is above a threshold level.
 2. The vehicularwindow assembly of claim 1, wherein said display device is activated tobacklight or illuminate the icon or alphanumeric character responsive atleast in part to determination that the vehicle is parked.
 3. Thevehicular window assembly of claim 1, wherein said display device isactivated to backlight or illuminate the icon or alphanumeric characterresponsive at least in part to determination of an occupant in thevehicle.
 4. The vehicular window assembly of claim 1, wherein saiddisplay device is activated to backlight or illuminate the icon oralphanumeric character responsive at least in part to determination of aperson approaching the vehicle.
 5. The vehicular window assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said display device includes at least one illuminationsource that, when activated, emits light to backlight or illuminate theat least one icon or alphanumeric character.
 6. The vehicular windowassembly of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises areconfigurable display device.
 7. The vehicular window assembly of claim1, wherein said display device is operable to indicate vehicle statusinformation.
 8. The vehicular window assembly of claim 7, wherein saidvehicular window assembly is configured to mount at the vehicle near afuel filling port of the vehicle, and wherein said display devicedisplays vehicle status information when a person is filling a fuel tankof the vehicle.
 9. The vehicular window assembly of claim 7, whereinsaid display device is activated to backlight or illuminate the at leastone icon or alphanumeric character to indicate status of at least oneselected from the group consisting of (i) engine temperature, (ii) tirepressure, (iii) oil life, (iv) battery charge level and (v) wiper fluidlevel.
 10. The vehicular window assembly of claim 7, wherein the atleast one icon or alphanumeric character comprises a plurality of iconsor alphanumeric characters, and wherein said display device is activatedto backlight or illuminate a respective icon or alphanumeric characterof the plurality of icons or alphanumeric characters to indicate (a)that the in-cabin temperature of the vehicle is above the thresholdlevel and (b) status of at least one selected from the group consistingof (i) engine temperature, (ii) tire pressure, (iii) oil life, (iv)battery charge level and (v) wiper fluid level.
 11. The vehicular windowassembly of claim 1, wherein said vehicular window assembly isconfigured to mount at the vehicle rearward of a side door of thevehicle, and wherein said display device is disposed at a lower regionof said glass window panel.
 12. The vehicular window assembly of claim11, wherein said vehicular window assembly comprises a fixed ornon-openable vehicular window assembly.
 13. The vehicular windowassembly of claim 1, wherein said glass window panel comprises apolyvinyl butyral layer disposed between said display device and saidouter glass panel.
 14. The vehicular window assembly of claim 13,wherein said glass window panel comprises another polyvinyl butyrallayer disposed between said display device and said inner glass panel.15. The vehicular window assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least oneicon or alphanumeric character is formed at a non-light-transmittingportion of said glass window panel, and wherein, when said displaydevice is activated, light emitted by said display device is visiblethrough the at least one icon or alphanumeric character formed at thenon-light-transmitting portion of said glass window panel.
 16. Thevehicular window assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one icon oralphanumeric character is part of said display element, and wherein,when said display device is activated, light emitted by said displaydevice is visible through at least a portion of said glass window panel.17. A vehicular window assembly, said vehicular window assemblycomprising: a glass window panel; a display device disposed at a surfaceof said glass window panel; wherein said display device comprises adisplay element that is operable to backlight or illuminate at least oneicon or alphanumeric character; wherein said display device comprises anelectrical connector that extends from said display element and thatextends from said glass window panel for electrical connection to a wireharness of a vehicle when said vehicular window assembly is mounted atthe vehicle; wherein, with said vehicular window assembly mounted at thevehicle, and when the at least one icon or alphanumeric character isbacklit or illuminated, the at least one icon or alphanumeric characteris viewable by a person exterior the vehicle; and wherein, with saidvehicular window assembly mounted at the vehicle, and with the vehicleparked, and responsive to determination of a person exterior the vehicleand at or approaching the vehicle, said display device is activated tobacklight or illuminate an icon or alphanumeric character of the atleast one icon or alphanumeric character to indicate at least onevehicle status.
 18. The vehicular window assembly of claim 17, whereinthe icon or alphanumeric character that is backlit or illuminatedcomprises an icon indicative of an in-cabin temperature of the vehiclebeing above a threshold level.
 19. The vehicular window assembly ofclaim 18, wherein said display device is activated to backlight orilluminate the icon or alphanumeric character responsive at least inpart to determination of an occupant in the vehicle.
 20. The vehicularwindow assembly of claim 17, wherein said display device includes atleast one illumination source that, when activated, emits light tobacklight or illuminate the at least one icon or alphanumeric character.21. The vehicular window assembly of claim 17, wherein said displaydevice comprises a reconfigurable display device.
 22. The vehicularwindow assembly of claim 17, wherein said display device is activated tobacklight or illuminate the at least one icon or alphanumeric characterto indicate status of at least one selected from the group consisting of(i) engine temperature, (ii) tire pressure, (iii) oil life, (iv) batterycharge level and (v) wiper fluid level.
 23. The vehicular windowassembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one icon or alphanumericcharacter comprises a plurality of icons or alphanumeric characters, andwherein said display device is activated to backlight or illuminate arespective icon or alphanumeric character of the plurality of icons oralphanumeric characters to indicate status of at least two selected fromthe group consisting of (i) engine temperature, (ii) tire pressure,(iii) oil life, (iv) battery charge level, (v) wiper fluid level and(vi) cabin temperature.
 24. The vehicular window assembly of claim 17,wherein said vehicular window assembly is configured to mount at thevehicle rearward of a side door of the vehicle, and wherein said displaydevice is disposed at a lower region of said glass window panel.
 25. Thevehicular window assembly of claim 24, wherein said vehicular windowassembly comprises a non-openable vehicular window assembly.
 26. Thevehicular window assembly of claim 17, wherein said glass window panelcomprises a laminate glass window panel having an inner glass panel andan outer glass panel, and wherein said display element is disposedbetween said inner glass panel and said outer glass panel, and wherein,with said vehicular window assembly mounted at the vehicle, and when theat least one icon or alphanumeric character is backlit or illuminated,the backlit or illuminated at least one icon or alphanumeric characteris viewable through said outer glass panel by the person exterior thevehicle.
 27. The vehicular window assembly of claim 26, wherein saidglass window panel comprises an inner polyvinyl butyral layer disposedbetween said display element and said inner glass panel and an outerpolyvinyl butyral layer disposed between said display element and saidouter glass panel.
 28. The vehicular window assembly of claim 17,wherein the at least one icon or alphanumeric character is formed at anon-light-transmitting portion of said glass window panel, and wherein,when said display device is activated, light emitted by said displaydevice is visible through the at least one icon or alphanumericcharacter formed at the non-light-transmitting portion of said glasswindow panel.
 29. The vehicular window assembly of claim 17, wherein theat least one icon or alphanumeric character is part of said displayelement, and wherein, when said display device is activated, lightemitted by said display device is visible through at least a portion ofsaid glass window panel.